GO for goals! That's the battlecry from Bury boss Graham Barrow as his side look to end a miserable series of results against struggling Cambridge United Saturday (3pm).
The Shakers have only found the net twice in their last six games, a run that has resulted in a worrying slide down the Coca Cola League Two table and had them looking over their shoulders at the clubs in the relegation places.
Cambridge are one of those teams, so Barrow's men could do themselves a massive favour should they send the U's home pointless on Saturday.
With that goal drought in mind, the Shakers chief has had his charges working on their finishing in training this week, and with striker Chris Porter (above left) and midfielder Dwayne Mattis (above right) - both proven scorers - expected to be back in contention after weeks out injured, hopes are high that the Gigg Lane men can pick up a morale-boosting victory.
The squad should also be strengthened by three other players with goalkeeper Glyn Garner and defenders Colin Woodthorpe and Paul Scott expected to feature against the U's.
Their availability couldn't come at a more opportune moment with influential skipper Dave Challinor set to miss the game through suspension.
The influx of bodies is a timely boost for manager Graham Barrow whose wafer-thin squad has been stretched to the limit in recent weeks with a dismal run of results as a consequence.
His side haven't tasted victory since the 2-0 triumph over Northampton Town at Gigg Lane eight games ago, a result that also ended a nine-game winless sequence.
However, confidence in the camp remains high and the manager is hoping the club's long-suffering home fans will get behind his side at this difficult time.
"We aren't a million miles away and we've got to dig in and stick together," he declared.
"The players are going to have to get the blinkers on and put in a display like the Swansea game last year.
"They need to get on the front foot because Cambridge have problems of their own,"
Missing skipper Andy Duncan and Danny Webb through suspension, Steve Thompson's side have also lost the services of on-loan striker Martin Carruthers who has returned to Lincoln City this week.
However, they have won their last two games and have been boosted by the signing of evergreen striker Iwan Roberts, on loan from Gillingham.
The much-travelled 36-year-old will go straight into the side for tomorrow's game and Cambridge are banking on his abrasive style earning them the few vital wins that will lift them out of the relegation places.
Currently on 27 points, six from safety and ten behind the Shakers, the U's are one club who are in the same leaky financial boat as the Shakers and have the spectre of administration, and a ten point deduction hanging over them.
But Barrow is keen to hammer another nail in their coffin with a convincing victory to send the fans home happy.
"I don't see it as a situation like last year," he said.
"After we lost at Lincoln I had to get the whip out in a big way but it's different this time,
"We need to keep the lads' confidence up, especially the younger ones, and that's where the fans can come in.
"Hopefully they will stick with the team throughout the whole 90 minutes and see where that gets us.
"But there is only so much other people can do for us, we know we have to go out and do it ourselves.
"We have to adopt the spirit we showed in the first four months of the season.
"During that time we didn't know when we were beaten and frequently came back from going behind.
"Ideally, we'll get a good start, something we haven't done at home in recent weeks, the players will need to be fired up."
Barrow has also paid tribute to stand-in Andy Marriott who this week joined Torquay United on an 18-month deal after filling the gap left by Glyn Garner's injury.
Ideally, the manager would have liked to have kept the 34-year-old but the club's parlous money situation scuppered that.
"It came to a stage when I had to say to Andy that there was probably not going to be anything down for him because of the finances here," he said.
"He did well for us, and we didn't do him any harm as it turned out.
"I think he saw Bury as a good base for him to start off his second career with the PFA but it wasn't to be."
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